BALTIMORE, MD – The residents of Baltimore, Maryland, were shocked when a routine night turned into a horrifying ordeal for April Hurley and her friend on September 19, 2023. Allegedly at the hands of Jason Billingsley, Hurley suffered a brutal attack that left her and her guest, Jonte Gilmore, seriously injured.
Attorneys from Murphy, Falcon and Murphy have filed a lawsuit against Eden’s Homes, Property Pals, and Billingsley in connection with the tragic events of that night. Court documents detail a harrowing account of Billingsley slicing Hurley’s throat, torturing her, sexually assaulting her, and setting both her and Gilmore on fire in her Upton home.
Despite the severity of their injuries, Hurley and Gilmore managed to survive the heinous attack after receiving emergency care at Shock Trauma. The subsequent discovery of Baltimore tech founder Pava LaPere’s lifeless body on the rooftop of her Mount Vernon apartment building shed light on the danger posed by Billingsley, leading to his arrest in Bowie, MD, on September 27.
As a registered sex offender and convicted felon, Billingsley was employed as a maintenance worker by Eden’s Homes and Property Pals, the companies responsible for managing and owning Hurley’s residence. In response to the traumatic events, Hurley has taken legal action against both companies and Billingsley, seeking compensatory damages for the pain and suffering she endured.
During a press conference addressing the lawsuit, Hurley emphasized the preventable nature of the attack, expressing gratitude for surviving the ordeal. She recounted the chilling details of Billingsley’s intrusion into her home under the guise of addressing a maintenance issue, resulting in life-threatening injuries and lasting mental distress.
The complaint lodged against Eden’s Homes and Property Pals asserts that these companies bear responsibility for the false imprisonment, assault, and battery inflicted upon Hurley as a result of their negligence in hiring Billingsley without conducting a thorough background check. The failure to uncover his violent criminal history ultimately placed Hurley and Gilmore in grave danger within their own home.
Legal experts have pointed out the importance of scrutinizing the hiring practices of employers like Eden’s Homes and Property Pals, especially when potential dangers to employees and residents are overlooked. Under the respondeat superior principle, these companies could be held liable for the actions of their employees, making it crucial to prioritize safety and due diligence in employment decisions.
The tragic events involving April Hurley underscore the need for increased diligence in ensuring the safety of residents and employees within various establishments. The absence of specific state mandates for conducting background checks highlights the importance of ethical and responsible hiring practices, particularly when dealing with individuals entrusted with maintaining the sanctity of people’s homes.